Article December 5, 2005 Issue

GOD'S CHILD—that means something!

BY DAVID STEVENS

A friend once caught me by surprise saying to me, "You're a child of God. Act like it!" It was irritating at first, but the more I have tried to think and act like God's beloved child, the more I find self-worth, confidence, health, and the freedom to make positive contributions with my life.

Most people I meet agree that we are children of God. But often they perceive of that concept as one of those warm, fuzzy ideas that feels good for the moment but has little lasting impact on our sense of vulnerability and capability, or on how we think about ourselves and the choices we make. I've decided I can no longer afford to take the idea of being a child of God lightly. Jesus thought it was important enough to make this point at the very beginning of the Lord's Prayer in the two monumental words "Our Father." That's an acknowledgment of our primary relationship with God, who is Spirit, and it establishes not only where we originate, but also that our original makeup is spiritual.

How important is this starting point? Mary Baker Eddy put it this way: "Spiritual causation is the one question to be considered, for more than all others spiritual causation relates to human progress" (Science and Health, p. 170). Knowing where we come from and who we are certainly does determine a great deal. Progressive, happy, healthy lives depend on who we think we are.

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